Business sheet having removable transfer means and method of making

ABSTRACT

A business sheet or the like carries image transfer means which is supported by a thin film or layer of tough flexible carrier material. The film or layer of carrier material is removably attached to the sheet and may be removed from the sheet before or after use of the transfer material. Thus, when desired, the transfer material is removed from the business sheet by removal of the carrier material and the business sheet is thus freed from the transfer material and from any problems which may be associated therewith.

United States Patent Paulson et a1.

BUSINESS SHEET HAVING REMOVABLE TRANSFER MEANS AND METHOD OF MAKINGInventors: William T. Paulson, Kettering, Ohio; David M. Davidson,deceased, late of Dayton, Ohio; by Clara A. Davidson, executrix, Dayton,Ohio Assignee: The Standard Register Company,

Dayton, Ohio Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequentto Dec. 4, 1990, has been disclaimed.

Filed: July 12, 1973 Appl. No.: 378,546

Related US. Application Data Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 156,704,June 25, 1971, Pat. No. 3,766,755, which is a continuation-in-part ofSer. No. 800,167, Feb. 18, 1969, abandoned.

US. Cl. 282/28 R; 156/247 Field of Search 117/364, 36.1, 76 P; 161/406;156/247, 344; 282/28 R; 283/66 A References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3/1936 Sherman et a1 117/361 1 1 *July 8, 1975 2,503,680 4/1950 Newman117/364 2,508,725 5/1950 Newman 117/364 2,790,742 4/1957 Wharton 117/3642,984,582 5/1961 Newman et al..... 117/364 3,328,190 6/1967Mathieu.................. 117/364 3,386,847 6/1968 McDermott et al.117/364 3,413,184 11/1968 Findlay et a1 161/160 3,458,339 7/1969 Newman117/364 3,776,755 12/1973 Paulson et a1. 1 17/364 PrimaryExaminerThomas 1. Herbert Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jacox & Meckstroth[57] ABSTRACT A business sheet or the like carries image transfer meanswhich is supported by a thin film or layer of tough flexible carriermaterial. The film or layer of carrier material is removably attached tothe sheet and may be removed from the sheet before or after use of thetransfer material. Thus, when desired, the transfer material is removedfrom the business sheet by removal of the carrier material and thebusiness sheet is thus freed from the transfer material and from anyproblems which may be associated therewith.

11 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures "ATP 31 JUL 6 ms SHEET 1 UF 2 FIG-l FIG-2I4 20 -V//////////////////A FIG-5 PATENTEDJUL' :975

SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG-8 FIG-9 VA'VI/l/I/Il 1 BUSINESS SHEET HAVING REMOVABLETRANSFER MEANS AND METHOD OF MAKING RELATED APPLICATION This applicationis a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 156,704, filed June 25, 1971, nowUS. Pat. No. 3,766,755 which is a continuation-in-part of copendingpatent application Ser. No. 800,l67, filed Feb. 18, 1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A sheet of transfer paper, such as a sheetof carbon paper, comprising tissue or bond or the like as a substrate,is well known as a transfer element between two record sheets or betweentwo sheets of information carrying paper. However, numerous problems areinvolved in the production and use of such sheets of transfer paper orcarbon paper. For example, costs of production of such carbon paper areconsiderable. Also, the carbon paper is usually smudgy or dirty tohandle. Furthermore, a sheet of carbonized paper has considerablethickness which adds to the thickness of a superposed set of recordsheets. The thickness of the carbon paper, therefore, reduces thecapability of a pressure or impact member to apply information bypressure or impact through a large number of sheets in a multicopy set.Furthermore, such carbonized paper contributes to image distortion as aresult of the fibrous nature of the paper.

It is an object of this invention to provide a business sheet or thelike which carries transfer material which is removable therefrom beforeor after use of the transfer material for transfer of information toanother sheet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of producingsuch a business sheet.

Another object of this invention is to provide such transfer structurewhich produces high quality multicopy impressions.

It is another object of this invention to reduce the number of webswhich must be collated in production of a unit to produce a given numberof copies.

It is another object of this invention to provide means by which filmcoating and carbon coating can be applied in a single coating cycle.

It is another object of this invention to provide such structure andmethod which is relatively low in cost.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of the businesssheet, the method of production thereof, and the mode of operationthereupon, as will become more apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A sheet, such as a sheet of paper or the like,serves as support means for a film or layer applied thereto, such as afilm or layer of plastics material, such as polyethylene or ethylenecopolymer or the like. The film or layer carries image transfermaterial, such as carbon or the like, or the image transfer material maycomprise pigments and/or dyes or may comprise a dye precursor whichdevelopes visible color by chemical change only after transfer. Thesheet is thus adapted to have information applied thereto, theinformation being simultaneously applied to another sheet or surfacewhich is in engagement with the image transfer material, and a limitedportion of the image transfer material is transferred to the other sheetor surface. In some cases,

printing action may be applied through a first sheet to a second sheetas image transfer material supported by the first sheet is transferredto the second sheet but without printing upon the first sheet. Varioustypes of printing or impressioning or imaging other than pres sure orimpact may be employed. Any image-wise application of energy sufficientto effect transfer of the image transfer material is suitable for usewith structure of this invention. After application of information bymeans of the image transfer material, the film may remain attached tothe support sheet or may be removed from the support sheet, carryingtherewith any image transfer material remaining upon the film. The filmwith the image transfer material carried thereby may be removed from thesupport sheet prior to image transfer and then returned to the supportsheet or to other support means for an image transfer procedure. Thus,in accordance with this invention, a record sheet may carry imagingtransfer means which is removable from the sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I, is a fragmentary sectionalview, somewhat enlarged, of a sheet or substrate which forms a portionof the structure of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the substrate or sheet towhich a carrier film or layer has been applied in accordance with thisinvention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a transfer unit whichincludes the substrate or sheet with the film or layer applied theretoand with image transfer material applied as a coating or layer to thecarrier film or layer.

FIG. 4 is a sectional diagrammatic type of view illustrating thecollating of a plurality of the transfer units of FIG. 3. This view alsoshows an image receptor sheet below the superposed transfer units.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the elements of FIG. 4 arranged insuperposed relationship as a set and illustrating image formationthereupon by application of image pressure.

FIG. 6 is a sectional diagrammatic type of view, drawn on a much smallerscale than the other figures, illustrating an apparatus and a method bywhich the film and the transfer material carried thereby may be removedfrom the sheet or substrate.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating another method of separationof a film from a substrate.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a method of separation of abonded film from a substrate and return of the film to the substrate,the film carrying image transfer material.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a method of separation of abonded film from a substrate and movement of the film to anothersubstrate, the film carrying image transfer material, the image transfermaterial being spaced from the substrate prior to separation therefrom,the image transfer material being adjacent the substrate to which thefilm with the transfer material is moved.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, drawn on a smaller scale than FIGS. 8 and9, illustrating a substrate having a film bonded thereto, the filmcarrying image transfer material, the substrate with the film and theimage transfer material being in a helical roll.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the substrate, film, and transfermaterial of FIG. 10, but illustrating stripping of J the film from thesubstrate as the film moves out of contact with the substrate and as thetransfer material moves into engagement with the substrate.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view, drawn on a larger scale thanFIGS. and 11, showing a superposed arrangement of film, transfermaterial, and substrate, the film carrying the transfer material. Thisfigure also shows an impact or pressure member for applying animpression upon the film for transfer of an image through the transfermaterial to the substrate.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another modification ofthe structure of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A suitable support sheet orsubstrate 10, such as a sheet of paper which is intended to carryinformation, is shown in FIG. 1. The support sheet 10 may be, forexample, a sheet of bond paper or the like or any other suitable sheetof material. The sheet 10 may be a plain sheet. or may be printedthereupon on either or both surfaces thereof. prior to becoming a partof a unit of this invention. The sheet 10 has characteristics whichpermit transmission of an image therethrough which is applied to asurface thereof.

A carrier film or layer 12 is applied to a surface of the support sheet10 so that the sheet 10 with the carrier film 12 may appear in themanner illustrated in FIG, 2. The carrier film 12 is preferably tough,flexible, and somewhat resilient, and may be, for example, a material ofthe plastics class. such as polyethylene or polypropylene or an ethylenecopolyiner or a wax blend thereof, or the film material may consist ofan asphalt based composition, or other suitable material.

The film 12 may cover a portion or portions of the sheet 10 or theentire surface of the sheet 10.

The film 12 may be attached to the sheet 10 in any suitable manner. Thepreferred method of attachment of the film 12 to the sheet 10 is that ofself-bonding. The term self-bonding includes attachment of the film 12to the sheet 10 by application of pressure therebetween and/or byapplication of heat thereto so that the film self-bonds to the sheet.The term bonding" also includes attachment of the film 12 to the sheet10 by use of adhesive material or the like. A relatively weak degree ofbonding or attachment of the film 12 to the sheet 10 is desirable. Thedesired degree of selfbonding may be controlled by various methods suchas by controlling the magnitude of heat and/or pressure applied to thefilm 12 and/or the sheet 10. Other factors affecting the degree ofself-bonding include the method of attachment, the composition of thecarrier 12, the film composition of bonding material, the temperature ofthe carrier film 12 and of the sheet 10, surface conditions of the sheet10 and the pressure of application of the carrier film 12 to the sheet10. The sheet 10 may be treated with a light water Spray or steam sprayfor dampening thereof immediately prior to application of the carrierfilm 12 to the sheet 10 to reduce or control the degree of bonding ofthe carrier film 12 to the sheet 10.

The carrier film 12 is preferably extruded upon the sheet 10 or coatedthereupon by a blade coating process. Alternatively. the film 12 mayconstitute a separate sheet or strip or lamination which is brought intocontact with the sheet 10 and attached thereto.

Attachment of the carrier film 12 to the sheet 10 may be over the entiremutual area or at any portion of the mutual area. For example,attachment may be at or along randomly or regularly spaced lines orspots or arcas, or attachment may be only along one or more edges ormargins of the carrier film 12.

The carrier film 12 is of a material which is sufficiently deformablefor transmission of pressure therethrough which is applied to the sheet10. Preferably, the thickness of the carrier film 12 upon the sheet 10is very limited. The carrier film 12 is preferably in the order of0.00025 to 0.0005 inches in thickness. However, films of otherthicknesses are satisfactory. For example, films of thicknesses greaterthan 0.001 inch have been found to be suitable. Also, films having athickness as low as 0.00015 have been found satisfactory. A film of adimension as set forth herein reduces the total thickness of a set oftransfer sheets and permits high quality multiple copy impressions.

The sheet 10 thus serves as support means for the relatively thincarrier film 12, enabling the film 12 to be utilized in strip or webform without undue stretching or breaking of the film 12.

An image transfer layer or transfer-imaging layer 14, for example, acoating ofa carbon ink of the wax based, or solvent based, or plastisoltype or the like is applied to the surface of the carrier film 12.Preferably, the image transfer layer 14 is applied to the carrier film12 after the carrier film 12 is applied to the sheet 10. However, insome cases, the image transfer layer 14 may be applied to the carrierfilm 12 prior to attachment of the film 12 to the sheet 10. The imagetransfer layer 14 may be applied to the carrier film 12 by a rollcoating process or by a wire coating process or by a blade coatingmethod or the like. The image transfer layer 14 may cover an entiresurface of the carrier film 12 or only selected portions or areasthereof.

The carrier film 12 may be applied over an entire side surface of thesheet 10 or may be applied to a portion or portions of the sheet 10, asstated above, in order to position image transfer material in a limitedlocation or locations on a sheet 10. Thus, a unit 16 is produced whichincludes the sheet 10, the carrier film 12 and the image transfermaterial or layer 14 and may appear substantially as illustrated in FIG.3.

FIG. 4 illustrates the process of collating a plurality of units 16 anda receptor sheet 20. The units 16 and the sheet 20 thus form a set or aunit set.

FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which information is applied to a unitor units 16 of the set. The receptor sheet 20 rests upon any suitablesupport structure 22. As an example of impressioning means, an impact orpressure member 24, such as a typewriter element or print element or thelike, is shown which has an impression surface which engages the surfaceof the sheet 10 of the upper unit 16 and may print thereupon or may onlyapply image pressure thereupon. Usually, however, printing action occurson the upper surface of the upper sheet 10 by image pressure of themember 24. When printing action occurs upon the upper sheet 10, anysuitable inking means is disposed between the pressure member 24 and theupper surface of the upper sheet 10. Simultaneously, the image pressureis applied to the sheet 10, film 12, and transfer layer 14 in each ofthe lower positioned units 16 and the image pressure is applied to thereceptor sheet 20. Thus, a portion of the transfer material moves fromeach transfer layer 14 to the sheet 10 or 20 which is in engagementtherewith, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Such portion of the image transferlayer 14 which is transferred may be a solid portion of the imagetransfer layer 14 or image transfer may involve release of a portion ofliquid ink contained in the image transfer layer 14. It is to beunderstood that various types of impressioning or printing may beemployed in regard to a business sheet of this invention. Imaging otherthan by pressure or impact may be used. Any image-wise application ofenergy sufficient to effect transfer of image transfer material may beemployed with regard to business form structure of this invention.

Each unit 16 may be a continuous strip or web. Alternatively, each unit16 may be an individual unit of suitable width and length dimensions.

Following impressioning or the application of information to superposedunits 16 and to the sheet 20 in a manner such as that illustrated inFIG. 5, the units 16 and the sheet 20 are separated or decollated. Thus,individual units 16 and the sheet 20, as a separate sheet, are againprovided.

Then each unit 16 is operated upon to separate the image transfer layer14 from the sheet 10, by removal of the carrier film 12 from the sheet10. Any suitable means and/or method may be used for separation of thecarrier film 12 from the sheet 10. When each unit 16 is continuous, theunit 16 may be operated upon in a manner such as that illustrated inFIG. 6 for separation of the carrier film 12 from the sheet 10. Aleading edge portion of the film or layer 12 is first separated from thesheet 10. Then the sheet 10 is moved in one direction, while the carrierfilm 12, with the image transfer layer 14 thereupon, is moved in anotherdirection. Such action may be referred to as peeling action. A drum 26may be used for such separation operation, as shown in FIG. 6. Thecarrier film 12 is thus removed from the sheet 10 as the sheet 10 movesforwardly from the drum 26, while the carrier film 12, with the imagetransfer layer 14 carried thereby, is moved downwardly from the drum 26for separation of the carrier film l2 and the image transfer layer 14from the sheet 10.

In accordance with this invention, a plurality of units 16 may beassembled as a unit set, as the units 16 are collated in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 4. Then after impressioning thereupon in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 5, the films 12 may be removed from the sheets 10 insubstantially straight line movement, in the manner illustrated in FIG.7. Such action may be referred to as shear action.

Separation of the carrier film 12 from the sheet 10 as illustrated inFIG. 6 or as illustrated in FIG. 7 may be performed manually or bymachine and may be referred to as stripping action. The word strip",stripping", or strippable as used in this application includes not onlyseparation action by which there is angular peeling movement between thesheet 10 and the sheet 12, as illustrated in FIG. 6, but also includesseparation by shearing action, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and alsoincludes any other type of action by which separation of the film 12from the sheet 10 occurs. Due to the fact that the attachment or bond ofthe carrier film 12 to the sheet 10 is relatively weak, as discussedabove, the stripping or separating action illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7or by any other action or movement can be readily performed.

Thus, in summary, each sheet 10 serves as support means for a film 12which carries image transfer material 14. The sheet 10 also serves asmeans through which pressure is transmitted to the film I2 and to theimage transfer material 14 for transfer of a portion of the imagetransfer material 14 to a subjacent sheet or surface. Then after use ofthe sheet 10 as a carrier means and as means through which imagepressure is transmitted, the transfer material 14 may be removed fromthe sheet 10 by removal of the film 12 from the sheet 10. Thus, aninformation business form is produced which is free from transfermaterial.

Printing by any suitable process may be applied to the sheet 10 before,during, or after use of the sheet 10 as a means through which imagepressure is transmitted.

If desired, the film 12 with the image transfer material 14 may remainattached to the sheet 10 after image transfer occurs and the advantagesof excellent image transfer are obtained.

The structure of this invention is capable of producing excellent imagetransfer. The thickness ofa unit 16, including a sheet 10, a carrierfilm l2, and an image transfer layer 14 is considerably less than thethickness ofa sheet 10 and a separate tissue type of carbon paper ortransfer sheet having a carbon or the like carried thereby. Furthermore,physical characteristics of a thin carrier film I2 having a layer oftransfer material, such as set forth above, permit image transfertherethrough by pressure or by other means than is possible by the useof a sheet of conventional carbon paper. Thus, a multiplicity ofexcellent copies may be made simultaneously in the use of structure ofthis invention.

The cost of a set of units made according to this invention isconsiderably less than that of a conventional set of forms in whichtransfer sheets are interposed between record sheets.

FIG. 8

FIG. 8 shows a modification in the structure of this invention in whicha sheet 50 has a film 52 releasably bonded thereto in the manner setforth above with respect to the sheet 10 and the film 12. As the film 52is attached to the sheet 50 for support thereby, a layer of imagetransfer material 54, similar to the layer of image transfer material14, discussed above, is applied to the film 52. The bonding of the film52 to the sheet 50 is sufficient to prevent inadvertent stripping of thefilm 52 from the sheet 50 during application of the image transfermaterial 54 to the film 52.

At the left-hand portion of FIG. 8, the film 52 is releasably bonded tothe sheet 50. However, as the sheet 50, with the film 52 and the layerof image transfer material 54 moves to the right, as illustrated in FIG.8, the film 52 is stripped or separated from the sheet 50 by a wedge 56,or the like. Then, the film 52, carrying the layer of transfer material54, is returned to engagement with the sheet 50, by any suitable means,such as a roller 58 or the like. The film 52, carrying the layer ofimage transfer material 54, is thus in a position to receive imagepressure transmitted through the sheet 50. Thus, image pressure istransmitted through the sheet 50, the film 52 and the transfer material54 after removal of the bonded relationship between the sheet 50 and thefilm 52, rather than prior to such removal of the bonded relationship.Thus, after transmission of image pressure through the sheet 50, thefilm 52, and the transfer material 54, for transfer of a portion of theimage transfer material, separation of the film 52 and the transfermaterial 54 from the sheet 50 occurs by a conventional type ofdecollating action, not shown. as distinguished from stripping action.illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9

FIG. 9 shows a sheet 60 to which a film 62 is releasably bondedv Thefilm 62 is similar to the film l2 and carries transfer material 64,similar to the transfer material I4.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, by relative movement be tween the sheet 60 anda wedge 66, the film 62 is stripped or separated from the sheet 60 andcarries the layer of transfer material 64 therewith.

Then the film 62, carrying the layer of transfer material 64, is movedto a sheet 68 which is movably supported by any suitable means. such asa roll 70. Thus, the sheet 68 supports the film 62 and the layer oftrans fer material 64. However, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the layer oftransfer material 64, rather than the film 62, moves into engagementwith the sheet 68. Thus, the film 62, the layer of transfer material 64and the sheet 68 appear as illustrated in FIG. 12. In some situationsthe layer of transfer material 64 is releasably bonded to the sheet 68.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the sheet 68 may rest upon any suitablesupport member, such as a member 72, for impressioning by an impact orpressure member 74. Thus, pressure is applied to the transfer material64 and an image is applied to the upper surface of the sheet 68, withoutthe need of a separate print ribbon or the like. Such structure isparticularly advantageous in high speed printer operation and the like.Furthermore. the transfer material 64 after application to the sheet 68,is covered by the film 62 and the transfer material 64 is thus preventedfrom smudging.

FIGS. 10 and 11 FIG. 10 shows an elongate sheet 80 which has a film 82releasably bonded thereto. The film 82 carries a layer of transfermaterial 84. The sheet 80 with the film 82 and the layer of transfermaterial 84 is in a coil or roll upon a spool 86 and is shown extendingtherefrom. In order to cause the sheet 80 to carry the layer of transfermaterial 84 directly thereupon, with the film 82 protecting the layer oftransfer material 84, a procedure illustrated in FIG. I] is employed.

The film 82 is stripped from the lower surface of the sheet 80, as thesheet 80 extends from the coil thereof shown in FIG. 10. The film 82 isfirst stripped from the lower portion of the sheet 80 and in a clockwisedirection along the outer portion of the coil to the positionillustrated in FIG. ll. Then the layer of transfer material 84 is laidupon the upper surface of sheet 80, as illustrated in FIG. 1], and thenthe sheet 80 and the film 82, carrying the transfer material 84, aredrawn from the coil thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 11. As this movement of the sheet 80 with the layer of transfer material 84 inengagement therewith occurs, the film 82 is stripped from the sheet 80,as illustrated in FIG. 11. In this manner, the sheet 80, the layer oftransfer material 84 and the film 82 may appear as illustrated in FIG.12, with respect to the sheet 68, the layer of transfer material 64 andthe film 62. In this manner, impressioning may be applied to the sheet80 through the film 82 and the transfer material 84, in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 12, with respect to the sheet 68, the layer oftransfer material 64, and the film 62. If desired, the layer of transfermaterial 84 may be bonded to the upper surface of the sheet 80.

FIG. 13 shows a substrate 90, which may be a sheet or strip or the like.A layer of transfer material 92 lies on the upper surface of thesubstrate 90. Immediately above the layer of transfer material 92 is afilm or carrier 94, and immediately above the film 94 is a layer oftransfer material 96.

Structure such as shown in FIG. 13 can be produced by the proceduresshown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, by which a layer of transfer material whichis carried by a film is laid upon a sheet as the film is stripped fromanother sheet or the same sheet.

Preferably, the layer of transfer material 92 is releasably bonded tothe substrate 90, at least at limited spots or areas 98, after beinglaid upon the substrate or while being laid upon the substrate 90. Then,as the substrate 90, the layer 92 and the film 94 are attached together,a layer of transfer material 96 is applied to the upper surface of thefilm 94.

The structure shown in FIG. 13 is used in form sets in which anotherrecord sheet may be positioned upon the layer 96 for application oftransfer material thereto from the layer 96 as pressure is appliedtoward the overlying sheet. The substrate 90 is adapted to receivetransfer material from the layer 92 as pressure is applied toward thesubstrate 90.

Although the preferred embodiments of the structure have been described,it will be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, the combination thereof and methods of production, whichgenerally stated consist in structure and methods capable of carryingout the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appendedclaims.

The invention having thus been described, the following is claimed:

1. A continuous business form article comprising a continuous paperrecord web, a continuous thin flexible film of plastics materialreleasably self-bonded to said record web and having a thickness notgreater than 0.0005 inch, a coating of image transfer material on saidfilm, and said film being strippable from said record web for removingsaid film and said coating of image transfer material from said recordweb after an image transfer is made.

2. A continuous business form article comprising a continuous paperrecord web, a continuous thin flexible film of plastics materialpositioned in superposed relation with said record web and having athickness less than 0.0005 inch, a coating of image transfer materialcarried by said film, said coating of image transfer material beingdisposed between said film and said record web and being transferable inimage formation from said film to said record web, and said film andsaid coating being carried by said record web with said coating insubstantially uniform contact with said record web.

3. A continuous business form article comprising a first continuouspaper record web positioned in superposed relation with a secondcontinuous paper record web, a continuous thin flexible film of plasticsmaterial disposed between said first and second record webs and having athickness less than 0.0005 inch, a coating of image transfer materialcarried by said film and disposed between said film and said secondrecord web, said film and said coating being carried by said firstrecord web with said film in substantially uniform contact therewith,and said film and said coating being removable from said record websafter an image transfer is made.

4. A continuous business form article comprising a first continuouspaper record web positioned in superposed relation with a secondcontinuous paper record web, a continuous thin flexible film of plasticsmaterial disposed between said first and second record webs and having athickness less than 0.0005 inch, a coating of image transfer materialcarried by said film and disposed between said film and said secondrecord web, and at least a portion of said film being self-bonded tosaid first record web and being strippable therefrom for removing saidfilm and said coating from said record webs after an image transfer ismade.

5. A method of producing a continuous business form article, comprisingthe steps of directing a continuous paper web from a supply roll to aplastics material coating unit, releasably coating a thin film ofplastics material onto the web to form a film thickness less than 0.0005inch, coating a layer of image transfer material onto at least a portionof said film, releasing the combined said film and layer of imagetransfer material from said web, and winding the assembly of the paperweb, the film of plastics material and the coating of image transfermaterial into a roll.

6. A method of producing a continuous business form article, comprisingthe steps of directing a paper web from a supply roll to a plasticsmaterial coating unit, coating a continuous film of plastics materialonto the web to form a film thickness less than 0.0005 inch, coating alayer of image transfer material onto at least a portion of said film,stripping the combined said film and layer of image transfer materialfrom said web, and directing the combined said film and layer of imagetransfer material back onto said web.

7. A method of producing a continuous business form article, comprisingthe steps of directing a paper web from a supply roll to a plasticsmaterial coating unit, coating a continuous thin film of plasticsmaterial onto the web to form a film thickness less than 0.0005 inch,coating a layer of image transfer material onto at least a portion ofsaid film, stripping the combined said film and layer of image transfermaterial from said web, and directing the combined said film and layerof image transfer material onto another paper web moving atsubstantially the same speed as the first web 7 8. A method of producinga continuous business form article, comprising the steps of directing apaper web from a supply roll to a plastics material coating unit,coating a continuous film of plastics material onto the web to form afilm thickness less than 0.0005 inch, coating a layer of image transfermaterial onto at least a portion of said film, stripping the combinedsaid film and layer of image transfer material from said web, anddirecting the combined said film and layer of image transfer materialback onto said web with said coating of image transfer materialpositioned between said film and said record web and in continuouscontact with said record web.

9. A continuous business form article comprising a continuous paperrecord web, a thin flexible film of material, a coating of imagetransfer material on at least a portion of said film, the assembly ofsaid film and said coating being releasably bonded to said record web toprovide continuous wrinkle-free attachment of said assembly to saidrecord web, and said assembly of said film and said coating beingstrippable from said record web as a unit for removing said assemblyfrom said record web after an image transfer is made.

10. A continuous business form article comprising a continuous paperrecord web, a thin flexible film of plastics material having a thicknessnot greater than 0.0005 inch, a coating of image transfer material on atleast a portion of said film, the assembly of said film and said coatingbeing releasably bonded to said record web to provide continuouswrinkle-free attachment of said assembly to said record web, and saidassembly of said film and said coating being strippable from said recordweb as a unit for removing said assembly from said record web after animage transfer is made.

11. A continuous business form article comprising a continuous paperrecord web, a thin flexible film of plastics material having a thicknessless than 0.0005 inch, a coating of image transfer material carried bysaid film, the assembly of said film of plastics material and saidcoating being stripped from one side of said record web and positionedon the opposite side of said record web with said coating of imagetransfer material located between said film and said record web fortransfer of an image formation from said film to said record web, andsaid assembly of said film and said coating being carried by said recordweb with said coating of image transfer material in uniform continuouscontact with said record web.

1. A continuous business form article comprising a continuous paperrecord web, a continuous thin flexible film of plastics materialreleasably self-bonded to said record web and having a thickness notgreater than 0.0005 inch, a coating of image transfer material on saidfilm, and said film being strippable from said record web for removingsaid film and said coating of image transfer material from said recordweb after an image transfer is made.
 2. A continuous business formarticle comprising a continuous paper record web, a continuous thinflexible film of plastics material positioned in superposed relationwith said record web and having a tHickness less than 0.0005 inch, acoating of image transfer material carried by said film, said coating ofimage transfer material being disposed between said film and said recordweb and being transferable in image formation from said film to saidrecord web, and said film and said coating being carried by said recordweb with said coating in substantially uniform contact with said recordweb.
 3. A continuous business form article comprising a first continuouspaper record web positioned in superposed relation with a secondcontinuous paper record web, a continuous thin flexible film of plasticsmaterial disposed between said first and second record webs and having athickness less than 0.0005 inch, a coating of image transfer materialcarried by said film and disposed between said film and said secondrecord web, said film and said coating being carried by said firstrecord web with said film in substantially uniform contact therewith,and said film and said coating being removable from said record websafter an image transfer is made.
 4. A continuous business form articlecomprising a first continuous paper record web positioned in superposedrelation with a second continuous paper record web, a continuous thinflexible film of plastics material disposed between said first andsecond record webs and having a thickness less than 0.0005 inch, acoating of image transfer material carried by said film and disposedbetween said film and said second record web, and at least a portion ofsaid film being self-bonded to said first record web and beingstrippable therefrom for removing said film and said coating from saidrecord webs after an image transfer is made.
 5. A method of producing acontinuous business form article, comprising the steps of directing acontinuous paper web from a supply roll to a plastics material coatingunit, releasably coating a thin film of plastics material onto the webto form a film thickness less than 0.0005 inch, coating a layer of imagetransfer material onto at least a portion of said film, releasing thecombined said film and layer of image transfer material from said web,and winding the assembly of the paper web, the film of plastics materialand the coating of image transfer material into a roll.
 6. A method ofproducing a continuous business form article, comprising the steps ofdirecting a paper web from a supply roll to a plastics material coatingunit, coating a continuous film of plastics material onto the web toform a film thickness less than 0.0005 inch, coating a layer of imagetransfer material onto at least a portion of said film, stripping thecombined said film and layer of image transfer material from said web,and directing the combined said film and layer of image transfermaterial back onto said web.
 7. A method of producing a continuousbusiness form article, comprising the steps of directing a paper webfrom a supply roll to a plastics material coating unit, coating acontinuous thin film of plastics material onto the web to form a filmthickness less than 0.0005 inch, coating a layer of image transfermaterial onto at least a portion of said film, stripping the combinedsaid film and layer of image transfer material from said web, anddirecting the combined said film and layer of image transfer materialonto another paper web moving at substantially the same speed as thefirst web.
 8. A method of producing a continuous business form article,comprising the steps of directing a paper web from a supply roll to aplastics material coating unit, coating a continuous film of plasticsmaterial onto the web to form a film thickness less than 0.0005 inch,coating a layer of image transfer material onto at least a portion ofsaid film, stripping the combined said film and layer of image transfermaterial from said web, and directing the combined said film and layerof image transfer material back onto said web with said coating of imagetransfer material posItioned between said film and said record web andin continuous contact with said record web.
 9. A continuous businessform article comprising a continuous paper record web, a thin flexiblefilm of material, a coating of image transfer material on at least aportion of said film, the assembly of said film and said coating beingreleasably bonded to said record web to provide continuous wrinkle-freeattachment of said assembly to said record web, and said assembly ofsaid film and said coating being strippable from said record web as aunit for removing said assembly from said record web after an imagetransfer is made.
 10. A continuous business form article comprising acontinuous paper record web, a thin flexible film of plastics materialhaving a thickness not greater than 0.0005 inch, a coating of imagetransfer material on at least a portion of said film, the assembly ofsaid film and said coating being releasably bonded to said record web toprovide continuous wrinkle-free attachment of said assembly to saidrecord web, and said assembly of said film and said coating beingstrippable from said record web as a unit for removing said assemblyfrom said record web after an image transfer is made.
 11. A continuousbusiness form article comprising a continuous paper record web, a thinflexible film of plastics material having a thickness less than 0.0005inch, a coating of image transfer material carried by said film, theassembly of said film of plastics material and said coating beingstripped from one side of said record web and positioned on the oppositeside of said record web with said coating of image transfer materiallocated between said film and said record web for transfer of an imageformation from said film to said record web, and said assembly of saidfilm and said coating being carried by said record web with said coatingof image transfer material in uniform continuous contact with saidrecord web.